Trigger mechanism for a chronograph watch

Abstract

A trigger mechanism for remotely operating the chronograph functions of a watch. A lever mounted to the watchcase is swingable about a pivotal connection for rotating a cylindrical cam. A rotary cam follower is displaced by the cam. A striker member extending from the cam follower actuates a pushbutton for controlling the chronograph functions.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent: 
     
       1. A trigger mechanism for operating a chronograph watch having a watchcase and a switch member for controlling the chronograph functions of the watch comprising a striker member for remotely actuating the switch member, a lever having a pivotal connection to the watchcase for swingable movement about the pivotal connection, mechanical linkage including a cam member and a cam follower, said mechanical linkage being effective for transforming said swingable movement of the lever to reciprocal movement of the striker member between a rest position and a stroke position, said switch member being actuated when the striker member is in the stroke position, said switch member further including a constraining force for returning the striker member to the rest position. 
     
     
       2. A trigger mechanism as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the swingable movement of the lever rotates the cam member into contact with the cam follower for displacing the cam follower. 
     
     
       3. A trigger mechanism as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the cam follower includes the striker member, said striker member being registrable with the switch member. 
     
     
       4. A trigger mechanism for remotely operating chronograph functions of a watch comprising a watchcase having at least one switch member for controlling the chronograph functions of the watch, a lever having a hinged connection to the watchcase, the hinged connection including a cylindrical cam member, a rotary cam follower for cooperative interaction with the cam member, said cam follower including a striker member registrable with the switch member, a pin for connecting the cam member and the rotary cam follower for respective rotational displacement, said lever being swingable about the hinged connection for rotating the cam member into contact with the cam follower and for correspondingly moving the striker member from a rest position to a stroke position, said striker member being effective for actuating the switch member when in the stroke position. 
     
     
       5. A trigger mechanism as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the switch member resiliently urges the striker member to the rest position. 
     
     
       6. A trigger mechanism for a chronograph watch comprising a watchcase having at least one switch member, said switch member being effective for controlling the chronograph functions of the watch, a lever having a pivotal connection to the watchcase, the pivotal connection including a cylindrical cam member and a rotary cam follower, said pivotal connection further including a pivot pin, the cam member and the rotary cam follower being journaled about said pivot pin, said lever being rotationally displaceable about the pivotal connection for rotating the cylindrical cam member into contact with the cam follower, said cam follower including a striker member, said striker member being registrable with the switch member, said striker member being further adapted to actuate the switch member during rotational displacement of the cam follower. 
     
     
       7. A trigger mechanism as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the switch member is a spring-urged pushbutton. 
     
     
       8. A trigger mechanism as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the rotary cam follower is mounted concentrically with the cylindrical cam member. 
     
     
       9. A trigger mechanism for a watch having a pushbutton operated chronograph function, said pushbutton being urged by a resilient force to an operating position, comprising a striker member registrable with the pushbutton for remotely depressing the pushbutton to actuate a chronograph function, a lever mechanically linked to the striker member by a cam member and a cam follower, said lever being pivotally mounted to the watch and selectively movable for exerting a force on the striker member to displace the striker member from a rest position to a stroke position, said pushbutton being depressed by the striker member when in the stroke position, said striker member being returnable to the rest position by the resilient force acting on the pushbutton. 
     
     
       10. A trigger mechanism as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the selective movement of the lever member rotates the cam member into contact with the cam follower and correspondingly displaces the striker member. 
     
     
       11. A trigger mechanism as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the striker member extends from the cam follower. 
     
     
       12. A trigger mechanism as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the cam member and the cam follower are concentrically mounted for relative rotation with respect to each other.